Over the next few days, as you stroll through the streets of Lisbon, you’re sure to smell the aroma of roasted chestnuts in the air. That means it ‘s São Martinho!
Not to mention the white smoke, which invades every Lisbon alleyway with that aroma typical of this time of year.
Speaking of which, have you seen our guide to the best places in the city to eat the most delicious roasted chestnuts?
To help you get through this day – and this month – we’ve put together a series of suggestions of things you can do related to St. Martin’s Day. Have fun!
Table Of Contents
Stroll through the streets of Lisbon
At this time of year, it’s normal for the streets of Lisbon to be lined with leaves in autumnal hues.
Likewise, on every corner of the city you can see hot, roasted chestnuts coming out of the huge charcoal roasters , wrapped in a sheet of newspaper or a yellow page. Thesmell is intense and, for many, extremely pleasant .
If you want to smell it too, and even taste a dozen of these excellent delicacies, there are some streets and arteries in Lisbon that you must pass through.
On this list you’ll find the best roasted chestnuts. But we can lift the veil a little with some of the main arteries:
- Rua Augusta
- Rua Garrett
- Rua do Carmo
- Largo do Chiado
- Restauradores Square
Listen to Carlos do Carmo’s famous song: “Homem das castanhas” (Chestnut man)
Carlos do Carmo had an enormous career in fado, and today we remember the Portuguese fado singer who sang “Homem das castanhas” so many times.
Do you still remember the chorus?
Who wants hot and good, warm?”
Strolling through the city gardens
Autumn is one of the most beautiful times to live in Lisbon.
For those who aren’t fans of hot weather, the onset of rainy days and the cold weather are the perfect excuses to get out of the house, preferably bundled up in gloves and a scarf.
And there’s a place in Lisbon where these items are the house specialty.
Our suggestion is a visit to the city’s various gardens and parks, which at this time of year show fantastic colors, with the leaves scattered across the ground and the trees taking on a new life.
We’d like to highlight the Jardim das Amoreiras, which is always open and located in the Praça das Amoreiras, and where you can take the opportunity to visit the Mãe d’Água reservoir, where you can visit the immersive Dalí exhibition, starting on November 9th.
Lisbon from above
If it’s nice to see how the streets of Lisbon are colored with autumn leaves, it’s even nicer to see the city from above, more precisely from some of the city’s most beautiful viewpoints.
We highlight the Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte, for many the best viewpoint in the city with breathtaking views, where the castle and the historic center appear in the foreground and then the Tagus on the horizon.
Warming the heart with hot chocolate (for those who don’t like foot water)
Despite the well-known summer of São Martinho, which happens every time there’s a bit of sunshine and the weather gets milder at this time of year, the truth is that with November come the cold days and also the desire to eat and drink something hot and, preferably, very sweet, like hot chocolate.
For us, the magic solution is hot chocolate and, fortunately, in Lisbon there are several places that serve it delicious and creamy.
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